Hi fellow color crazed ones,

I'm through whining, I hope too many of you didn't run away.

Today was fantastic. How could I feel sorry for myself, living at the water's edge.

First thing, I towed out my raft, laden with styrofoam weights, noodle, kick board and shoe fins, threw in the anchor and worked out doing water aerobics for an hour. Now, I'm sure I looked pretty peculiar to the 100 or so folks on the public beach two houses down, but I didn't care.

Next, after showering, I took a board that I had taped six small pieces of watercolor paper to last night, a jug of water, and my watercolors and began to paint small images.

Never mind that there were thousands of pressed flowers to be sorted  and bagged in my studio, a new piece or two for a juried competition to be finished by Friday. A very detailed bio I owe my gallery, I was having fun!

I forgot that I hurt.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Hi every art lover,

Yesterday, I finally had the appointment with the rheumatogist I have been waiting months to see. It seems the pain I have in my thumbs to my wrists and my lower spine are osteoarthritus, which I knew, but it is all the way to my neck, getting worse and will continue to.

 She sent me to physical therapy for my hands, which I haven't gone to yet, but will probably next week.

Many, many x-rays showed serious spine and neck damage, and my hands are so bad she just looked and didn't have to x-ray. I have an MRI scheduled (love that claustrophobic feeling)for next week.

I heard her say "surgery" on my hands and back, and told her I would never have surgery. "When you have to get around in a wheelchair you will," she said, writing out a script for an anti-inflammatory steroid. (Hi Roger.)

I also had a bone density test which showed I have osteoporosis. More drugs.

I was sending out invitations to the "Chairs for Charity" party at my gallery with a photo on one side of me creating the "throne" and I started to cry.

Who will take care of my husband if I have any operation at all? I guess that settles it. No operations!

Back to work tomorrow mailing postcards and working on three pictures to enter in a juried show in NYC.

My husband, buddha-like, just takes it all in.

live in the light,

Lisabeth

Hello Arties,

I am slowly recovering from last week, one gallery lowering my prices, one asking me to remove my 17 pieces. No, it's not a baseball game, that would be more fun, I was hurried when I titled last blog. Everthing isn't so literary.

At 7:30AM I was in the Madison Health and Racquet club outdoor pool, jogging, cross country skiing, working styrofoam weights and riding my orange noodle like a bicycle. The sun was shining and I was very happy to be alive.

I had coffee and a bagel with my 75 year old girlfriend who is another angel put in my life to get me through tough times. I have had several angels in my life. She offered me a ride to Bristol RI on the 29th because she is picking up all of her watercolors. She feels they will show better elsewear. So I won't be alone as I gather up my work, not knowing what to say, not wanting to say anything. We'll treat the journey as another "road trip."

I am still pressing the most beautiful petals, and attempting to organize them in celophane bags.

The new local art course books are coming and I would like to choose something. I love art classes taught by good teachers.

Another late night, early morning. Hate those bags!

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Hello picture makers,

This just isn't my week. Yesterday the man who owns the gallery in Bristol RI asked me to take my work back because it wasn't selling. Although my pieces are seaweed, they aren't pictures of the ocean, salboats, etc, which seem to be selling there.

Now, I always thought the guy was a flashy (open shirt, many gold chains) loud guy, and his taste wasn't the best, It still hurts to be told your work doesn't fit in.

I've been depressed for two days. I think the NY market is the answer but I am worn out, between taking care of my husband, entering art society shows, keeping the one gallery that's left satisfied and up to date. It sure hasn't been the Summer I had hoped for.

Struggling to live in the light,

Lisabeth

Hello slices of color,

Today was the day to clean up all the mess made by the last few projects I have worked on. The chair was so bad, it took up my studio, then moved to the living room by the AC, and evenings moved to my TV chair to watch Saving Grace, Closer, etc.

Tomorrow I go to the Gallery to change out some pictures. I really like what is there very much. One of the owners mentioned lowering prices last time I saw her, like from $375 to $299. I don't know what to think. Some of those faces, made of separate petals, took days to finish.

Can I get some feedback? Would you lower prices in hopes of selling? Or stick to what you feel you and your work is worth?

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

PS Thanks for all your comments on my chair. I wish the photo showed it better, but the light was fading.

Hello all you colorful artistes,

The chair is done and I don't know how to transfer a photo into this blog. I will submit it to my gallery for a few days so anyone who wants to can see it. I miss it. Be sure to click on it so you can see the seat.

Took this weekend off, swimming, collecting shells for my garden path, sleeping outside in the lounge chairs, reading. Having girlfriends over to noodle in the water, all the great summer playing I've put off for the "Princess's Throne.
There will be a silent auction for the chairs and big party in the gallery on August 23rd. I hope someone likes my chair as much as I do.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Good evening,  brush waving friends,

My chair is finally done and delivered to the gallery! It looks like a wild, gypsy seat, with flowers and ribbons flying everywhere . Two women stopped me on the street for a look, and loved it.

 They placed it the space in front of my area with my oher work ahd it's right at home with my  colors and shapesl I call it the princess's throne, and sometimes chairie.

Tomorrow, a girlfriend invited me  to go flower picking. There is a field of picking flowers behind a nursery and you can pick all you want for $8. Can't wait to see the different types. and  colors.

I feel so free now that my chair is finished. I want to go out, eat scallops and clams, look in store windows, and especially, go swimmng! Tomorrow.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Good evening Arties,

This evening I got sort of dressed up and attended my first ever reception at the Clinton Art Association. I'm a new member, and submitted two pictures for this show, and the jurors picked both. Seaweed hangs in Clinton! I feel like I break a barrier when pressed seaweed makes it into a show.

There was live music, a sax and a keyboard, which made it fun. Lots of food, fantastic deserts, punch, and 64 pieces of art to look at. I don't think I sat down once.  Shoreline art is different than most. We have great numbers of beach scenes, cottages, sailboats, lighthouses. It's what we look at, so we want to share it, I guess.

Any ideas on how to hang art free standng, outside? Could still use your help. There must be a way.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Have to sleep, water aerobics in a few hours!

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Good evening all paint pushers,

Today, while working probably my 9th hour on my chair for charity, with a show coming up next Sat, I started thinking.

I know nothing about priorities! I'll work 100 hours on a chair that will come out quite elaborate, but not necessarily a good idea, as few charity givers will be drawn to such a frill.

Meanwhile, I have an outdoor show in a large tent, part of my Madison Art Society group, and I could use some smaller sized, lower priced work to attract customers to my area. The whole idea is to catch the "sidewalk sales" crowd. I don't have anything done, so I should be making some.

Also, I have nothing to hang my paintings on, as part of a group show. We always used the mesh sides of our tent, but that's not possible in a group situation. We went to Home Depot today and my husband didn't like the lattice. If anyone has any ideas on how to make hanging devices for about 10 pieces, I would love to hear them.

Of course, everything isn't so very gloomy. I entered two pieces into a juried show for the Clinton Art Society, and both pieces were accepted!!! Tomorrow is the reception 5-7:00 too early for "putting on the Ritz," but I love white linen for early evening.

Laughing at myself, because if I couldn't, I'm not sure what would happen.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth